The PTM leaders were booked under Sections 153 (provoking with intent to cause riot), 153(a) (Promoting enmity between different groups), and 34 (Acts done by several persons In furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 109, which prescribes the punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment and where no express provision is made for its punishment.

The PTM has recently organised protests in different parts of the province, including Zhob and Killa Saifullah, against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial arrests and killings, as well as the mistreatment of the Pakhtun community by security forces.

The column said militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas, and subsequent counter-terror operations, caused millions to be displaced from their homes, with residents plagued by arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.

Leaders of PTM — which is an organisation working for the rights of those affected by war on terror in Tribal Areas especially those from South Waziristan — claim that in the past decade, 32,000 Pashtuns have gone missing from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. They insist that their struggle was to ensure implementation of the Constitution under which the law-enforcement agencies are supposed to provide details of the people they pick up and present them before courts.

On DawnNews

Comments (7) Closed

Ahmed bin Babar

Mar 13, 2018 07:32pm

Their concern is genuine and requires due redress...

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GK

Mar 13, 2018 08:13pm

Why? there should be freedom to protest

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Ana

Mar 13, 2018 08:15pm

I as a woman started wearing the pukhul cap as a respect to pathan culture in Karachi. It was to show them that they were just like us or I was just like them. I also did that with sindhi ajrak. I am urdu-speaking. we as communities need to love and care for each other

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HelliWorld

Mar 13, 2018 09:00pm

Why Pakistan is suppressing the voice of these people? Today or tomorrow they will gain freedom from Pakistan. India should raise their freedom concern in UN.